Lumper Fee Tracker for Owner Operators

How much should a lumper fee be, and how do I get reimbursed?

A lumper fee for loading or unloading a trailer is often $100 to $400 per load. Warp, a freight company that publishes its numbers, lists $100 to $250 for a palletized load at a grocery distribution center and $300 to $500 for a floor-loaded one. The price depends on the facility, the freight and how it is billed. Keep the original, itemized receipt. Most brokers reimburse lumper fees only against a receipt showing the facility name, date, amount and a description of the service, submitted with your invoice.

1. Get an itemized receipt at the facility before you leave: facility name, date, amount, and what the fee covered.
2. Photograph the receipt immediately. A faded thermal-paper receipt can become unreadable in days.
3. Record the fee against the load it belongs to, so it is easy to match when you invoice the broker.
4. Submit the receipt with your invoice or proof of delivery, since most brokers will not reimburse a lumper fee without one.
5. Flag any lumper charge that seems high for the facility and freight type, and ask the facility or broker for a breakdown before you pay if you can.

Federal law (49 U.S.C. §14103) says a shipper or receiver that requires help unloading must provide it or pay the owner-operator's cost, and it bars coercing a carrier to unload or to pay for it. It sets no price and no claim process, so reimbursement still follows your broker's and shipper's contract. Confirm your broker's reimbursement process before you accept a load at a facility known for lumper fees. The Warp figures are one company's published ranges, not a standard.

Last reviewed October 2026. Sources: 49 U.S.C. §14103; Warp: lumper service.